Latics written off by bookies

Sports Betting: A FEW short weeks ago I wrote in this column that odds of 100-1 for Athletic to be promoted in the play-offs were an insult. The Latics were above the relegation zone at the time and boasted a decent squad.

Alas my optimism - and that of the fans - was sadly misplaced. It gives me no pleasure to say that Athletic are now odds-on to be relegated, despite the appointment of manager John Sheridan.

The best price you can get about the team going down is 4-7 (Sky Bet), while other bookmakers go as low as 4-9.

If you are a Latics fan and feeling positive, Sky Bet will give you 5-4 about them stopping up. When you consider the odds for them to go down, that’s stingy.

Hopefully, the team will prove the odds-layers wrong and stage a recovery in the second half of the season. But wins are needed - fast. It would be great if they won at Bradford on Saturday; they are rated 4-1 shots to do so. The hosts are 8-11, with the draw 11-4.



NOVAK Djokovic has a stranglehold on men’s tennis and it’s unlikely that will loosen when the Australian Open gets under way on Monday.

The Serb with the iron will and talent to match is not unbeatable, but he isn’t far off.

Let’s put this in perspective: Andy Murray, one of his strongest challengers recently, has beaten him once in the 11 matches they have played since the Scot beat him in the Wimbledon final - in 2013

It’s amazing that a man can be so dominant, given there are so many great male players out there at the moment. But Djokovic seems to have a mental and ability edge over his opponents.

But there is one player who, on his day, can give Djokovic a really hard time.

Stan Wawrinka won in Melbourne in 2014 and captured the French Open last season. In 2014 he beat Djokovic in the quarter-finals en route to the title.

Last year in Paris he wrecked Djokovic’s dream of a career grand slam by beating him in the final.

This is a man who knows how to beat Djokovic in major matches, yet is available at 14-1.

Who would you rather back: Murray at 6-1, Federer at 9-1, Nadal at 12-1, or Wawrinka at 14-1?

Given that Djokovic is too short at 8-11, it looks a no-brainer to me.


RECOMMENDATION: Stan Wawrinka to win Australian Open, 14-1 (Stan James, William Hill).